It's time for a first birthday!

What a day it was! I still can't believe Kenzi is one year old! She is growing up far too fast!  We took her to the zoo and rode the carousel for the first time. You can't really tell she is enjoying something in the moment, she pretty much just stares around, but we know she liked it because she cried when it was over. :)

We were having two birthday parties for her (pics later) so it was a low-key day, but I made her favorite dinner (TUNA CASSEROLE - I know!) and then we skyped Grandparents while opening presents

You can tell which gift won out - but she loves her little doll now. It has a cute little laugh when you push her tummy.  Kenzi also received some awesome books from Grandma, a darling dress, and a Zebra rocking chair from her other Grandma. The overall hit was a little yellow duck that swims in the water, and she is loving the vacuum that talks and laughs. The duck is definitely the neighborhood favorite - we take it to the pool and Kenzi doesn't see it the whole time we're there! She doesn't mind though, she loves being around other kids.

Kenzi, we love you so very much! At one year old you have seven teeth, lots of little curls, weigh 19 pounds and are 28 inches tall. You love people, especially blowing them kisses, waving, and giving fives. You are very good at patty-cake, always raising your arms up at the right time, and you love 'shoe an old horse'. I can't take you anywhere without being stopped by someone wanting to be your friend. Your smile lights up the room and I love when you giggle and run away because you know you have something you shouldn't. You say 'dada' and 'duck'- sounds like 'duct', and 'mama', but mama only comes out when you are upset. You love french fries, tuna casserole, spaghetti, eggs, yogurt, CHEESE, many vegetables, and not too many fruits. You have the funniest little grunt/growl which your dad loves, and you love the funny things he does too! You are always climbing all over him like a personal jungle gym and love the water. You are very close to walking (you actually walked less than a week after your birthday). Happy birthday baby girl!

New Baby

So, maybe I should have mentioned we did have The Tiny One before I posted about Halloween? Where are my priorities!  She was born July 10th, weighing in at only 5 lbs 6 oz.  What a shocker! She has grown steadily ever since. Being a mom is the best thing ever!

Nobody knew she had hair because of her hat, but what cute hair it was! (Yes, was - she has lost much of it)

First bath pics!

 So little - that outfit she is wearing with Grandma Thornock is a little newborn jumper that is supposed to just end at her diaper but she was so small she could curl her legs up inside of it.

Love that one sleeping with Grandpa!

Thanks for coming Grandmas and Grandpa!  We are so grateful for you!

Here's one more recent one with Daddy - do they have the same expression or what!?! 

Halloween

Fairy - is there anything else that makes an easier costume for a baby? Love it!

And cuter, did I mention cuter?

This was the week before at our annual ward Halloween party

Finally, I get to be in the parade!  Just kidding. I do have to say though, one of the best parts of being a parent is justifying Halloween again, and not feeling any obligation to dress up myself when I can just dress up the tiny one!

It's hot!!!!

I haven't looked at our blog for quite a while now, but in the middle of this heat wave I can barely look at our main blog picture without getting just a little bit hotter!  Maybe it's because of the little (though steadily growing) oven I have moving inside of me??? 5.5 weeks left, but who's counting???

On other news, Elder Dallin H. Oaks - one of our 12 apostles came to visit our stake for a special stake conference today. It was wonderful to have an apostle come and speak specifically to our stake (a stake is make up of about 8 or so congregations all organized together based on geographic location in our church). He spoke of the importance of family prayer, patriarchal blessings, and many other things, though I have learned the best part of being in the presence of an apostle is just feeling the love of our Heavenly Father expressed through them. 

A couple of random pics

First pic is of Mom, Grandma, Dad and Brad on the Tom Sawyer paddle boat when they came to visit (not Brad, but the rest of them) us this Summer.  We had a great time, this was one of the few moments of the trip where we sat for 30 minutes straight.  Thanks for coming Grandma!

Second pic is totally unrelated, sorry for the bad quality but I am really excited about my latest purchase. Thank you Hobby Lobby!  Introducing, my new black styrofoam chandelier!  Hung with fishing line thank you Brad! It's not white-trash, it's Halloween.

Why I haven't posted in the last....oh, year or so

Sorry friends.  I have let you down, and myself.  Why haven't I posted in the last year?  I learned that I am a little more shy than I thought - I had all these little posts I wanted to write in my head like the witty ones written by my good friend Megs, or great projects I was working on like my good friend Kim, or all these pics of us going to the beach like my good friend Heather (no, not really unless you count the Mississippi...which you shouldn't by the way). Anyway, I realized I was shy to put things out there in the big wide blogging world. So...I will try to be better because I like to read (i.e. stalk) my friends blogs and hear what they are up to. One awesome thing about not posting?  Fall is back, and that means I don't have to change my background for a while. 

P.S. Dear Megs, can you ever forgive me for not reading my emails to find out about Rocket's birth until just last week?  Here's to Rocket!

How lame am I?

You would think having a new blog I would be all gung-ho about posting, right?  NO!  Not I!  Sorry friends, I can't promise anything! 

What are we up to now? Brad is nearing the end of a crazy semester, and I am working hard as a mortgage banker.  Life is good, but very busy.  At our church Brad is a nursery teacher (working with kids 18 mos to 3 years), and I am co-activity days leader (activities for the 8-11 year old girls). 

Life is good, but this is a boring post.  Why haven't I posted pics of the apartment yet you ask?  Umm....because I still have not hung all our pictures!  I will soon, promise!  Right now I am making what I hope will be a sweet little gift for our not-so-baby- niece A.  I will share when it is finished (if it turns out)! 

One cool experience I had this week, I got to meet the old basketball star Rick Barry and announcer Dick Vitel.  I was getting a drink at an event my bank, First Omni Mortgage, sponsored, and Dick Vitel asked me to take his and Rick Barry's picture.  It was pretty cool, and his voice is the same in real life!

Maybe my next post will have pictures...